You only have one chance to sail this brand-new cruise ship in the Caribbean
Sun-seekers, meet Star Seeker. One of the cruise industry's most anticipated new high-end ships is set to debut at the end of next year, and you'll only have one chance to catch it in the Caribbean.
Windstar Cruises' Star Seeker — a new 224-passenger vessel that's the line's first new-build in nearly 40 years — will begin sailing in December 2025. Its primary focus will be voyages in Alaska and Japan — two regions where Windstar hasn't had a presence since 2023. Before the ship permanently relocates to those two regions, it will offer a brief series of cruises in the Caribbean, providing passengers an exclusive three-month window to try out the ship in more beachy destinations.
For a short period from Jan. 15, 2026, through the end of April 2026, Star Seeker has scheduled a mix of Caribbean itineraries. These can either be booked as Caribbean-only segments or as longer voyages that combine three regions — the Caribbean, the Panama Canal and Alaska — for a more distinct experience.
"I'm really excited we'll be able to sail the new Star Seeker in the Caribbean before the ship continues on to its final destinations of Alaska and Japan," Christopher Prelog, Windstar president, said in a statement from the line. "Star Seeker will likely not return to the Caribbean again, so it's a wonderful but fleeting chance for our Caribbean destination fans to experience the ship."
Prelog said passengers on select Caribbean sailings aboard the new vessel will also have access to exclusive celebratory experiences. This includes a sunset sailing parade past the pitons in St. Lucia after Star Seeker meets up in the region with sister ships Wind Spirit and Star Pride.
The Caribbean sailings will range from seven to 14 days. They will depart from San Juan, Puerto Rico, visiting ports of call in the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, as well as St. Maarten, St. Kitts, Bequia, St. Lucia and more.
From May through August 2026, the ship will remain in Alaska after its final Caribbean-to-Alaska voyage. From there, it will run two main types of itineraries. The seven- and eight-night one-way runs between Vancouver, Canada, and Juneau, Alaska, including Misty Fjords, Ketchikan, Sitka and Haines. The longer 10-, 11- and 12-night voyages between Vancouver and Anchorage will stop at Ketchikan, Misty Fjords, Klawock, Wrangell, Haines, Juneau, Sitka and Seward (the port for Anchorage).
In September 2026, the vessel will cross the Pacific Ocean and relocate to Japan to resume Windstar's popular Grand Japan voyages for the first time in three years. Guests booked on these itineraries can expect to travel between Yokohama (the port for Tokyo) and either Osaka or Kobe with calls on ports like Shimizu, Shingu, Kagoshima, Nagasaki, Karatsu, Hiroshima and Takamatsu.
Although Windstar's ships feel upscale, the niche small-ship line's fares are not all-inclusive. You'll pay extra for things like alcohol, shore excursions and Wi-Fi. What you can expect, though, is an intimate onboard vibe with great service, delicious food and elegantly appointed accommodations.
In addition to Star Seeker, the line operates a fleet of six other vessels. They fall into two categories: ships with sails and ships without them. Currently, the line has three of each. When Star Seeker debuts as the fleet's seventh ship (the fourth without sails), it will fall somewhere in the middle in terms of passenger count. The others carry anywhere from 148 to 342 passengers. Windstar plans to acquire an eighth ship, also with no sails, in 2026.
Star Seeker was originally under construction for Atlas Ocean Voyages. Windstar purchased the partially completed ship after Atlas abandoned the project.
The maiden voyage for 9,315-ton Star Seeker will depart Dec. 28, 2025, from Malaga, Spain, featuring a transatlantic crossing and a call on Santa Cruz de Tenerife in the Canary Islands for a New Year's Eve party before arriving in Miami. An eight-day christening voyage will take passengers from Miami to San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Jan. 15, 2026; it will include visits to ports in the Dominican Republic and British Virgin Islands.
Star Seeker itineraries are currently available for booking.
Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:
- The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
- A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
- The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
- A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
- 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
- 15 ways cruisers waste money
- Best cruises for people who never want to grow up
- What to pack for a cruise